Method for the surface modification of at least one component and reactor device for carrying out the method

Abstract

A process for surface modification of a component includes providing a first reactor for a main procedure and a second reactor for an ancillary procedure. The first reactor is charged with a main medium, a component is provided to the first reactor, and the main procedure is performed by bathing the component in the main medium to bring about a chemical change onto a surface of the component. The second reactor is charged with an ancillary medium, the component is provided to the second reactor, and the ancillary procedure is performed by bathing the component in the ancillary medium to treat the surface of the component. The chemical change is a surface modification that takes the form of bluing or phosphatizing, the surface modification forms a conversion coating, and the component has a diameter or dimensions in the range from 0.5 m to 12 m.

1 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A process for surface modification of a component comprising:
 providing a first reactor for a main procedure and a second reactor for an ancillary procedure;   charging the first reactor with a main medium;   providing a component to the first reactor;   performing the main procedure by bathing the component in the main medium to bring about a chemical change onto a surface of the component;   charging the second reactor with an ancillary medium;   providing the component to the second reactor;   performing the ancillary procedure by bathing the component in the ancillary medium to treat the surface of the component, wherein:
 the chemical change is a surface modification that takes the form of bluing or phosphatizing; 
 the surface modification forms a conversion coating; and 
 the component comprises a diameter or dimensions in the range from 0.5 m to 12 m. 
   
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first reactor is closed after the step of providing a component to the first reactor; or   the second reactor is closed after the step of providing the component to the second reactor.   
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 12  wherein:
 charging the second reactor with an ancillary medium includes charging the ancillary medium from an external container to the second reactor; and 
 the process comprises the step of returning the ancillary medium to the external container after performing the ancillary procedure. 
 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the main medium is heated during the main procedure or the ancillary medium is heated during the ancillary procedure. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the component is a bearing ring. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 12  further comprising:
 providing a first holding device in the first reactor for holding the component; 
 providing a second holding device in the second reactor for holding the component; and 
 providing a transport device for:
 providing the component to the first reactor or the second reactor; and 
 removing the component from the first reactor or the second reactor. 
 
 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 12  wherein:
 the first reactor comprises a plurality of first reactors; 
 the second reactor comprises a plurality of second reactors; 
 m represents a total number of first reactors and second reactors; 
 the process comprises the step of providing n external containers for charging the plurality of first reactors and the plurality of second reactors; and 
 n≥m. 
 
     
     
         19 . A process for surface modification of a component comprising:
 providing a first ancillary reactor, a second ancillary reactor, and a first main reactor;   charging the first ancillary reactor with a first ancillary agent;   providing a component to the first ancillary reactor;   performing a first ancillary procedure by degreasing the component with the first ancillary agent;   charging the second ancillary reactor with a second ancillary agent;   providing the component to the second ancillary reactor;   performing a second ancillary procedure by rinsing the component or nucleating the component with the second ancillary agent;   charging the first main reactor with a first main medium;   providing the component to the first main reactor;   performing a first main procedure by bathing the component in the first main medium to bring about a chemical change onto a surface of the component;
 the chemical change is a surface modification that takes the form of bluing or phosphatizing; 
 the surface modification forms a conversion coating; and 
 the component comprises a diameter or dimensions in the range from 0.5 m to 12 m. 
   
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 19  further comprising:
 providing a second main reactor; 
 charging the second main reactor with a second main medium; 
 providing the component to the second main reactor; and 
 performing a second main procedure by bathing the component in the second main medium to bring about a further chemical change onto the surface of the component. 
 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the first ancillary reactor is closed after the step of providing a component to the first ancillary reactor;   the second ancillary reactor is closed after the step of providing the component to the second ancillary reactor; and   the first main reactor is closed after the step of providing the component to the first main reactor.   
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 19  wherein:
 the first main medium is heated during the first main procedure; 
 the first ancillary agent is heated during the first ancillary procedure; or 
 the second ancillary agent is heated during the second ancillary procedure. 
 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 19  wherein the component is a bearing ring. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 19  further comprising:
 providing a first holding device in the first ancillary reactor for holding the component; 
 providing a second holding device in the second ancillary reactor for holding the component; 
 providing a third holding device in the first main reactor for holding the component; and 
 providing a transport device for:
 providing the component to the first ancillary reactor or the second ancillary reactor or the first main reactor; and 
 removing the component from the first ancillary reactor or the second ancillary reactor or the first main reactor.